Oven protector



Dec. 19, 1967 F. JOHNSON 3,358,872

OVEN PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 14, 1965 INVENTOR FRANK JOHNSON BY 2mm HT RNEY United States Patent 3,358,872 OVEN PROTECTOR Frank Johnson, RD. 2, Box 50, Freehold, NJ. 07728 Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 496,066 1 Claim. (Cl. 22tl44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Protection against spattering of grease released by cooking vessels is effected by provision of a fine mesh screen cover, applicable over a cooking vessel and consisting of a single, continuous sheet of fine mesh wire screening, free of joints and seams so as not to collect or hold any grease and so that it may be quickly and easily cleaned.

The invention herein disclosed relates to devices for protecting ovens from the spatter of cooking foods.

Objects of the invention have been to protect the oven walls from spatter without interfering with or detracting from the cooking operation.

Further objects of the invention have been to improve flavor by retaining fluids released in the process of cookmg.

Particularly, it has been an object of the invention to provide protection in a practical, useable form and in a structure which could be easily kept clean and free from grease or other accumulation.

Other special objects of the invention have been to provide a protective device of light but strong construction and which could be produced at relatively low cost.

The foregoing and other desirable objects have been accomplished by novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts; all as hereinafter disclosed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The drawing illustrates a present practical embodiment of the invention but structure may be modified and changed as regards the same, all within the true intent and scope of the invention, as hereinafter described and claimed.

FIG. 1 in the drawing is a side elevation of one of the protectors.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a broken sectional view.

A basic feature of the invention is the use of fine mesh Wire screeen, in the form of a canopy, freely pervious to the oven heat but deterrent to grease and spattered products.

In the illustration, this protective canopy is made up of a continuous sheet of seamless screen on the order of 12 or 14 mesh, shaped into continuously connected top and side wall portions 6 and 7, with the raw edges of the screen material clamped at 8 in a continuous loop of binding material 9.

This binding may be a sheet metal strip enclosing a wire 10 and rolled with the wire enclosing the edge of the screen.

This binding strip then becomes the base of the shield, in a plane to support it flat on the broil pan, as shown in FIG. 3, covering the cooking vessel, over and free of the contents.

To brace and support the screen material in the shape to which it has been formed, one or more reinforcing strips may be placed on the inside of the canopy.

In the illustration, there are two such strips, 11 and 12, extending from the base strip at one side in an arch over to the opposite side, in continuous engagement with the screen and permanently secured at opposite ends to the base strip.

These reinforcements are shown as crossing at the center and as indented and interlocked at the crossing point at 13.

The ends of the reinforcement are shown as hooked at 14, in engagement with the base member.

The shield or canopy thus constructed is sufiiciently rigid for all practical purposes.

It is light in weight and thus practical for handling and storage and being seamless, it is easily cleaned by simple washing.

Actually, it is more or less self-cleaning, due to the high temperature to which it is subjected. Grease will not stick to it and it cleans well in a dishwasher.

The spatter products will not pass through the screen, but the screen offers no resistance to passage of heat and so does not interfere with the usual cooking processes.

Holding the heat as it does, the protector enables faster cooking of meats and the like.

These protectors may be readily produced by simple manufacturing methods at reasonable cost.

The open mesh screen canopy actually may improve the cooking; retaining desired elements or products which otherwise would be lost and discharged on the oven walls.

Also of advantage, the screen cover prevents food in a hot oven from catching fire.

A handle or handles may be mounted on the top or other portion of the protector, where most practical for the handling of the device.

The illustration shows one form of handle, 15, on the top, secured through the screen, to the internal bracing member.

The protective screen may be of any desired size, height and shape to suit the conformation of the grill or pan and the substance to be cooked.

In FIG. 1, a high form of canopy is illustrated, whereas in FIG. 3 the canopy is indicated as of lower height, for more general cooking purposes.

What is claimed is:

a shield for protecting an oven from the spatter of cooking foods, comprising a heat passing but grease restraining canopy for covering a cooking vessel and contents and composed of a single one piece, continuous layer of seamless fine,

open mesh wire screen shaped in the form of a canopy having unobstructed continuously connected top and side walls and a permanently attached binding extending in a continuous loop about the lower edge of said side Walls and in a single plane for supporting said shield at a height to cover such a vessel, free and clear of the contents of the vessel,

said binding consisting of a wire about which the lower raw edge of the wire screen are wrapped and a sheet metal cover and reinforcing strip rolled about that part of the screen wrapped about the Wire.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,770,389 11/1956 Drakoif 220-44 2,820,513 1/1958 'Drakofl 220-44 FOREIGN PATENTS 318,282 9/1929 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. JAMES B. MARBERT, Examiner. 

